NHL best bets: Oilers vs. Stars Game 2 odds, preview, prediction for Sat. 5/25

Oilers vs. Stars Odds

Saturday, May 25, 8:30 p.m. ET, TNT & truTV

Odds via bet365. Get up-to-the-minute NHL odds here.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers played the quintessential road game on Thursday. Despite having first change, Kris Knoblauch still managed to deploy his top scorers under the most ideal circumstances.

Moreover, the entire team played a shutdown brand of hockey, limiting the chances against. In the end, Edmonton out-chanced the Stars by a 16-10 margin in high-danger chances and 34-29 in scoring opportunities, implying that they have a sustainable path forward to upend the Stars again in Game 2.

Further, this was akin to the effort we saw from the Oilers in Game 7 of their second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks. Edmonton forced the hosts to chase the puck throughout that decisive contest, staking themselves to a lead and not looking back.

That's been a fruitful blueprint we don't expect the Oilers to deviate from moving forward. Altogether, Edmonton has out-chanced its opponents in high-danger chances in five of the past seven, winning all but two of those contests.

We also can't look past the contributions of Stuart Skinner. The Oilers netminder was benched following a lackluster effort in Game 3 versus the Canucks. Skinner stopped 11 of 15 shots for a disastrous 73.3% save percentage, getting relegated to backup duties for two contests.

Then, when his teammates needed him most, Skinner delivered two stellar efforts in must-win situations.

Subsequently, he followed that up with Thursday's 31-save performance. Over that modest three-game stretch, Skinner has a 92.3% save percentage and 1.50 goals against average.

Hot goaltenders carry teams far in the playoffs, but the Oilers have the analytics and systems in place to boot. There might be no stopping them at any point this postseason, and certainly not in Game 2.

Dallas Stars

The Stars made short work of the Colorado Avalanche in the second round. Dallas jumped out in front of its series, winning three of the first four contests versus the Avs before hanging on for a 4-2 series win.

However, the Stars' successes are contraindicated in their metrics, implying they could be regression candidates at the worst time of year.

Since the start of the second round, the Stars have been outplayed in four of their seven contests. Across that sample, Dallas has posted a 48.8% expected goals-for rating, which is the worst of any team still standing. Predictably, its scoring and high-danger chance ratings have also plummeted, dropping to 45.8% and 47.7%, respectively.

Still, the Stars have won four of seven, posting a 52.0% actual goals-for rating and inflating their PDO beyond sustainable levels.

Consequently, they could be entering a correction phase as actual metrics balance out with expected. With that, more losses will follow.

Lastly, it also looks like opponents have solved Jake Oettinger. The Stars goalie has been a stalwart all year, but a troubling trend has emerged following his last few outings.

Six of the last eight goals scored against Oettinger have come on plays that have him moving laterally through his crease. The Oilers exposed that on the first and third goals on Thursday, using low shots on side-to-side movement to beat the 6-foot-5 netminder.

Unless he adapts, Oettinger is prone to more goals of the same nature.

Dallas is starting to show cracks in every part of its game, leaving it vulnerable to a dangerous Oilers attack.

Oilers vs. Stars

Betting Pick & Prediction

It's not reflected in the betting price, but these teams are trending in opposite directions. The Oilers have re-asserted themselves in both ends of the ice, outplaying their opponents and finding ways to win on the road.

Conversely, the Stars have out-lasted their metrics and are poised for collapse.

On that basis, we're planting our flag in the Oilers moneyline again in Game 2.

Edmonton was the superior team in the series opener and has replicated that success night after night.

As it stands, +120 is the best available, but we would make this bet at any plus-money available.

Pick: Oilers (+120 at bet365)